Cervical cancer, which is diagnosed in 600,000 people worldwide each year, is one of the leading cancers threatening women's health. Domestic researchers have unveiled the characteristics and developmental processes of cervical stem cells and suggested a new possibility that Searo may prevent cervical cancer.
Professor Chung Young-tae and his research team at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) have identified the identity and differentiation processes of cervical stem cells for the first time in the world, noting on the 14th that they confirmed Searo can inhibit the occurrence of cervical cancer. This research was conducted in collaboration with Professor Jeong Geun-oh from Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital and Professor Lee Min-ho from Dongguk University.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most prevalent cancer among women worldwide. The main cause of its onset is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which has led to a sharp decline in incidence rates through vaccination in developed countries. However, in underdeveloped countries where vaccination is challenging, the incidence remains high, indicating a need for new preventive methods.
To find treatments for cervical cancer, researchers first developed an experimental model involving the transplantation of human stem cells onto the tongues of mice. When human cells are inserted into an animal, the immune system typically attacks them, but these experimental mice have weakened immune functions that do not reject human cells. This allows for observation of whether stem cells grow well in the body and makes it easy to verify the effectiveness of treatment drugs. They also succeeded in cultivating normal cervical tissue and precancerous tissue in organoid form in the laboratory. By observing the organoids, researchers can clarify the identity and differentiation processes of human cervical stem cells.
By analyzing the characteristics of stem cells using a new animal model and cervical organoids, researchers confirmed that the human papillomavirus proliferates progenitor cells that have begun to differentiate rather than stem cells. This process was identified as a major cause of cervical cancer.
The research team also validated the effects of Searo on cervical cancer. Known to be the most abundant beneficial bacteria in the female vagina, Searo had previously been recognized only for its ability to inhibit cells that had already developed into cervical cancer. This study revealed a new mechanism by which Searo suppresses cancer progression right from the pre-cancer stage. Searo secretes lactic acid, reducing the impact of the human papillomavirus and inhibiting the process of normal stem cell self-replication and conversion into cancer cells.
Professor Chung Young-tae noted, "Through this research, we learned that Searo plays an important role in maintaining cervical health and preventing cervical cancer," and stated, "In the future, we aim to contribute to the development of cervical cancer prevention technologies based on this work."
The research results were published in the international journal "Nature Communications" on the 8th.
References
Nature Communications (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57323-6